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Small is beautiful: AGL physical modeling and salt measurements

N. Dyaur, R. Stewart, and L. Huang

HoustonMay 16, 2013

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Introduction & motivation• Why physical modeling?• AGL physical modeling system• Scaled models of resource interest

– laser-etched glass– 3D printed materials– Inclusions and injection

• Fracture results• Ultrasonic measurements on salt & sediments

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100 kHz to 5 MHz sources and receiversUse 10,000 factor to compare to seismic:100 kHz = 10 Hz, 5MHz = 500 Hz

Schematic diagram of ultrasonic system

Source

Receiver

Source

Source

Microseismic experiment

Receiver

Receiver

Marine System Land System Measurement system

Receiver stationsSource

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AGL Ultrasonic Research SystemsMarine system

Land System

Ultrasonic measurement system

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Part of ModelsGlass models

Azimut

hal a

cquis

ition

Injection Model

Large Model with fracture domain

Frac

ture

Mod

elin

g

3D printed Models

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Example of CMP profiles in ultrasonic experiment in laser fractured glass

OFF Fracture ON Fracture

Direct Arrival

P-Wave Reflection from Glass Bottom

C-Wave Reflection from Glass Bottom

Shear-Wave Reflection from Glass Bottom

Shear-Wave Reflection from Glass Bottom

P-wave Reflection from Top of Fracture

P-wave Reflection from Base of Fracture

(processed by Bode Omoboya)

3D printed models

51 mm

51 mm

51 mm

Prism A

Prism B

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HTI

VTI

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Hydraulic fracture model with horizontal well

200 mm152.4 mm

137.

7 m

m XY

Z

Model PM 4 (real)

Image patch of fracture in PM 3 (microscope)

Model PM 4 (drawing)

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Vertical fractures

Tilted fractures

Horizontal fracture

Combination of fracture systems

Future of Modeling with 3D printed material

3D printed Material

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Halite Core from a salt dome.

Core as it was delivered to AGL

This part of core was cutfor ultrasonic measurements

Core 1Core 2

763mm

101.

6 m

m

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Test NVp, Km/s Vs, km/s Vp/Vs

14.512 2.611 1.728

24.532 2.624 1.728

34.521 2.609 1.733

Average4.522 2.615 1.729

Velocity of Compressional wave (Vp) and Shear wave (Vs) along of axis of Salt core. Density.

Table 1. Results of three tests : Velocity Vp and Vs, and Vp/Vs ratio

Ultrasonic transducers for P- and S-waveVelocity measurements with central frequency 500 kHz

Density:Core 1 – 2.124 g/ cm3

Core 2 – 2.054 g/ cm3

Ro of salt core – 2.09±0.04 g/ cm3

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Salt core in device for anisotropy measurement.

Angle meter(Azimuth)

a) Front view

b) Top viewUltrasonictransducers ,Used Shear wavetransducers – 0.5 MHz central frequency

Salt core

Device

Salt core

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Azimuthal velocity of Compressional (Vp1) and Shear (Vs1) waves for section 1 of salt core-2Azimuth was taken a confidential.

Velo

city

, km

/s

Vp Vs

Section 1

4.2

4.4

4.60

30

60

90

120

150180

210

240

270

300

330

4.2

4.4

4.6

Vp1 av

2.4

2.5

2.6

2.70

30

60

90

120

150180

210

240

270

300

330

2.4

2.5

2.6

2.7

Vs

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Pressure dependent velocity (Vp and Vs) measurement within sample of core 2 (De-hua-Han Rock Physics Lab, UH, AGL)

Halite cylindrical sample (D=36.84mm, L=50.36mm)

Vp and Vs of Salt core 2 under Confining pressure

Vp

Vs

Vp/Vs versus confining pressure

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Conclusions:

AGL physical modeling Laboratory has 3 Ultrasonic research systems: a) Marine, b) Land, c) Ultrasonic measurement system.

They are used for modeling seismic survey, microseismic monitoring tests, time-lapse seismic, and characterization of rocks and material elastic properties.

Seismic physical modeling solve the geophysical problems in more economical and fast way.

Study properties of rocks support in interpreting field data

3D printing material gives new opportunity for physical modeling of reservoir or rocks containing tectonic or hydraulic fractures in anisotropic medium.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:

ConocoPhillips,AGL

Dr. Peter CopelandMr. Jose Baez-Franceschi

Dr. De-hua HanMr. Q. YaoMr. F. Yan

Students of AGL

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Thank you !